Wrench



Nov. 29, 1938 WRENCH Filed March '7, 1938 flTTOPA/Ey c. R. GEISEL I 2,138,332 v Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE WRENCH of Connecticut Application March '7,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches and, as illustrated herein, relates more particularly to ratchet wrenches of the type wherein the rotation of the ratchet may be reversed at will.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved ratchet wrench and more particularly to provide an improved ratchet actuating mechanism for such wrenches, which will have a very light ratcheting action while being positive and free from jamming. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved spring for such wrenches which will be sufficiently strong to maintain the pawl in selected ratchet engaging position, while still providing the desired light ratcheting action. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved means for pivoting the spring and for maintaining the spring pivot in a predetermined position relatively to the pawl and ratchet. Another object of my invention includes the provision of an improved structure having a small number of improved and simple parts, which are adapted to be inexpensively manufactured and assembled and to operate over a long period with a minimum of wear. These and other objects and features of my improved construction will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for the purposes of illustration, two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in side elevation, partially in longitudinal section, of a wrench constructed in accordance with the above mentioned improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the wrench, the handle being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the cover plate removed to facilitate illustration, the parts being disposed for rotation of the ratchet in one a direction;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts disposed for rotation in the opposite direction;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the con- .nection of the spring to the pivoting member, certain of the parts being omitted and others being broken away to facilitate illustration, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a modified form of spring.

In the illustrative construction, there is shown a wrench body generally indicated at I and having a handle 2. The wrench body carries a rotatable ratchet member 3 having a downwardly extending portion which is adapted to engage with a wrench socket, or other suitable work piece,

1938, Serial No. 194,410 (01. 19243.1)

indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The rotatable ratchet member 3 is adapted to be rotated in opposite directions depending upon the position of adjustment of a swinging controlling member 4 carried on the top of the wrench body and below a cover plate 5.

It will be noted that the body I is provided with a chamber 6 arranged to receive in one end the rotatable ratchet member 3 and, in the other end, to receive a cooperating oscillating pawl 'I. As illustrated herein, an end of the chamber 6 is rounded and of larger diameter. The ratchet 3, which is mounted in this end, has a reduced bearing portion 8 beneath the ratchet teeth 3a and is rotatably mounted in the bottom portion 9 of the chamber. The chamber 6 is'also provided with side walls II] which converge from the end in which the ratchet 3 is mounted toward the opposite end of the chamber in which the pawl I has its bearing. The bearing surface for the pawl is also arcuate and receives the rounded end I I of the pawl I. The pawl I is also provided with converging side walls l2 and is smaller than the portion of the chamber in which it is located. The pawl I is thus free to be moved from adjacency to either side wall of the chamber 8 about its end II until it approaches the other side wall of the chamber, i. e. to be adjusted for reverse operation in either the position shown in Fig. 3 or the position shown in Fig. 4. As illustrated herein, the pawl I is provided with a pair of spaced diverging arms I3 and I4, the end of each arm being provided with a square end I5 so that these arms may selectively cooperate with the teeth 3a of the ratchet 3 during ratcheting in opposite directions as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In accordance with the present invention, the side walls II] of the chamber 6 are cut away to form arcuate recesses I6 adjacent to the rounded end of the chamber 6 in which the ratchet 3 is mounted. These recesses I6 are arranged to receive laterally extending ears I? formed on a washer or bearing member I8 and in which the upper reduced end IQ of the ratchet 3 is journaled, the diameter of this bearing member be ing substantially the same as the diameter of the larger rounded end of the chamber 6. It is evident that these ears II, in conjunction with the arcuate recesses l6, form a convenient and simple means for preventing rotation of the bearing member I8 when the ratchet is rotated in reverse directions. Located between the ears I! .is a radially projecting portion 20 which is arranged, when in position, to be located in alignment with the axis of rotation of the ratchet 3 andthe axis of rotation of the pawl I and between these axes. A hole, having its center in alignment with the axis of the ratchet and the axis of rotation of the pawl, is also formed in the projecting portion 20 for purposes which will later be described and it will also be noted that the portion 20 is spaced from the cover 5 as hereinafter described.

The illustrated wrench is provided with an improved spring 2'! which is arranged to engage the pawl 1 between the arms l3 and I4 to hold.

the pawl in selected ratchet engaging position.

As illustrated, the pawl 1 has a space or opening between the arms I3 and I4. This opening has, an end wall 22 forming a cam face; which is'illustrated herein as being arcuate, while the inner sides of the arms l3 and I4 diverge away from the ends of the wall on cam face 22;. The: spring 2| is provided with a substantially vertical end portion 23, which carries a" roller 24 arranged. to engagethecam face 22 and. which is normally disposedin the corner between the. arm. l3.- and. the cam face 22 or between the arm l4: and. the cam: face 22. The. spring 2| has. a connecting portion: 25: which; is substantially V- shaped and connected. to another substantially vertical end portion 26. The vertical endportions. 23., 26 are substantially, parallel. and lie. in. substantially the. same plane.. The springpressure. exerted by the connecting portion 25 and,.

consequently, the pressure. exerted by end. portion.23. on the. pawl issubstantially even. through the length of. thev contacting portions. The V- shaped connecting portion 25 extends laterally in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the: portions 23, 26.. Thiszendportion 26 is arranged to be inserted throughthe hole formed in the projecting portion2fl. of; the bearing. member. [8 and. into another hole. formed. in the lower orv bottomv portion 9 of the chamber 6.. The spring 2|. is thus pivotally mounted. adjacent to the top andv bottom. of its substantially vertical. end portion. 26. The normal distance-between the end portions 23. and 26 is substantially greater than. the. distance between the pivot. hole formed on the projecting portion. 20* and the cam face 22. It is necessary therefore, to'place. the spring 2| under compression. as it: is. being. inserted inv position. in the chamber 6'. Thus, when. the spring: 2.I. is-in position,. it isun'der compression. and holdsthe roll 24 against the cam face 22 adjacent to. the junction thereof. with oneor the other of. the pawl arms 13 or. l4. In order to insure that the spring 2| will befree to move during ratcheting when the pawl l is. in the position shown in. Fig. 3', the projection 20 and a portion. ofthe bearing member 18 is cut away to.- form. a recess 2011.. The V-shaped connectingv portion 25 is of such length that it may be flexed Without danger of. breaking during ratcheting operations. It is to be notedthatthe V-shaped portion 25 of the spring 2| is substantially horizontal and that, when the spring is inposition in. the wrench, the top. surface of this spring lies substantially in. the plane of thetop of the reduced: portion I9 of the ratchet 3 and the top surface of the bearing member I8. When the cover 5. is placed in. position, the spring 2| cannot be moved vertically, and thus the spring 2| is pivotally confined in the chamber 6.

The swinging and controlling member 4, as previously stated, is carried on the top of the wrench body. It is to be noted that the swinging controlling member 4 1s pivoted to the wrench body by a screw 21 which extends through the cover 5 and is threaded into an upstanding portion 28 formed adjacent to the bearing surface for the rounded end ll of the pawl I. The controlling member 4 is provided with an extended portion 29 which is arranged to be engaged by the operator to move the controlling member from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. It is to be noted that this portion 29 is located between ribs 33 formed on the handle 2 of the wrench so that the portion 29 is protected from accidental movement. The other end of the swinging controlling member 4 is. provided with a slot 3! into which fits the upper end of the substantially vertical end portion 23 of the spring 21. Thus, when it is desired to reverse. the operation of the pawl, the controlling member 4 is swung from the position shown. in. Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and moves the end portion 23 and the roller 24 across the cam face 22 to move the pawl into its reverse position.

In the operation of this improved construction. itwill be evidentthat, withthe controlling mom;- ber 4 in eitherpositionthereof,.the.wrench. will. be free to ratchet in one direction. For. example, referring now-to;Fig..3, just. as soon. as the pawl.

end [5. clearsthe end of the. next tooth 3a as a.

result. of: the movement of the wrench body and,

whiletheother pawlend iimoves toward a tooth.

3a, and before. it can engage therewith,. the spring. portion 23- and. the roller 24 will snap the first pawl end; l5.- back into engagement with the next tooth. It will. also be noted that the construction. is such that the parts are returned.

automatically so as to be ready for further operation. Further, when the controlling member 4. is moved into its other position,.the ratcheting direction. will. be reversed. More particularly,. the. roller 24 will then. be moved to the position.

shown: in Fig. 4 and held in that position: where it will. be note-d that the parts will be operated in; the manner. above described. during ratchetmg.

As illustrated in Fig. 6tof the drawing, a spring member 32; for holding. the pawl T in ratchet engaging position. may be formed with a short depending leg. 33. pivoted only inthe bearing member I8. This spring member is provided with a; substantially vertical depending portion- 34 carrying a roller 35 arranged: to engage the pawl. l; to. hold the same in ratchet engaging position. A substantially V-shapedportion- 36 connects the depending portions 33 and 34 The above described spring member 32 operates: to hold the pawl: l; in. selected ratchet engaging. position in substantially the same manner that the preferred spring 21 operates. It is-to be noted,.however, that the spring member 32 is pivoted onlyv in the bearing member I8 and does not extend downwardly into a hole formed inthe. bottom of the wrench body as in: my preferred construction.

As a result of this improved construction, it will. be evident that the ratcheting action will be very. light but still extremely positive,- the pawl ends l5, due to the action of the spring 2|,

cooperating with the teeth 3a of the ratchet 3-ina very effective manner and continuing to operate equally eifectively irrespective of the positionof the spring 2| or the controlling member 4. Further, the structure is such as to eliminate danger of the parts being disposed in a neutral position, the spring snapping from one corner to. the other and having no tendency to remain inv any intermediate position. Attention is also -di-- veniently reversed and replaced whenever desired.

While I have in this application. specifically described two forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be noted that my invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, ratchet positioning means including a bearing ring above said ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, and a spring pivotally mounted in said bearing ring and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

2. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a rotatable ratchet mounted in said chamber, a bearing for said ratchet, a pawl in said chamber for rotating the ratchet, and a spring pivotally mounted in said bearing and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

3. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a rotatable ratchet having reduced top and bottom portions, said reduced bottom portion being journaled in the bottom of said chamber, a bearing for the reduced top portion of said ratchet, a pawl in said chamber for rotating the ratchet, and a spring pivotally mounted in said bearing and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

4. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a rotatable ratchet having top and bottom portions, said bottom portion being journaled in the bottom of said chamber, a bearing for the top portion of said ratchet, a pawl in said chamber for rotating the ratchet, and a spring pivotally mounted in a hole formed in said bearing and extending into a hole formed in the bottom of said chamber, said spring also having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

5. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, a bearing for said ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, a projection on said bearing, and a spring pivotally mounted in said projection and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

6. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet,

a bearing for said ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, a projection on said bearing, and a spring pivotally mounted in said projection and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, said projection having a recess arranged to receive a portion of the spring to permit pivotal movement of said spring.

7. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, a bearing for said ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, a spring having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, and a projection on said bearing having a hole between the axis of rotation of the ratchet and the axis of rotation of the pawl and in which the spring 'is pivotally mountedi 8. In a ratchetwrench, a rotatable ratchet, a bearing for said ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, a spring having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, and a projection on said bearing having a hole between the axis of rotation of the ratchet and the axis of rotation of the pawl and. in which the spring is pivotally mounted, said projection having a recess arranged to permit pivotal movement of the spring.

9. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a rotatable ratchet in said chamber having top and bottom portions, said bottom portion being journaled in the bottom of said chamber, a bearing 'for the top portion of said chamber having means arranged to engage the walls of the chamber to hold the bearing against rotation, a pawl in said chamber for rotating the ratchet, and a spring pivotally mounted in said bearing and having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position.

10. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a rotatable ratchet in said chamber having top and bottom portions, said bottom portion being journaled in the bottom of said chamber, a bearing for the top portion having laterally extending ears arranged to engage the walls of the chamber to hold the bearing against rotation as the ratchet is rotated, a pawl in said chamber for rotating the ratchet, a spring having a portion arranged to engage the pawl to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, and a projection on said bearing having a hole therein arranged to receive a portion of said spring to permit pivotal movement of the spring.

11. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, and a spring having a depending portion to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, a second portion pivoted in said wrench between said ratchet and pawl, and a connecting portion extending laterally relative to the plane of the first two mentioned portions.

12. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet, and a spring having a depending portion to hold the pawl in ratchet engaging position, a second portion pivoted in said wrench between said ratchet and pawl, and a laterally extending connecting portion between the first two mentioned portions, said connecting portion having spaced portions movable toward and away from each other during ratcheting.

13. In a ratchet wrench, a rotatable ratchet, a pawl for rotating the ratchet and a spring for holding the pawl in ratchet engaging position, said spring including a portion arranged to engage the pawl, a second portion pivoted in the wrench between the axis of rotation of the ratchet and the axis of rotation of the pawl, and a substantially V-shaped connecting portion between the first mentioned portions.

14. In a ratchet wrench, a body portion having a chamber therein, a ratchet rotatably mounted insaid chamber and having top and bottom portions, said bottom portion being journaled in the bottom of said chamber, a bearing for the top portion having means engaging the Walls of the chamber to prevent rotation of the. hearing. 8.83 the; ratchet. is 1013813811, v a; pawlin; said chamben. for rotating; the: ratchet, a, pro.-

J'eotion one said? bearing disposed between the; axis of rotation of the ratchet and the: axis, of;

* rotation of themawl and.- atspring. having a pair of; substantiallyvertically. extending portions, and a plurality.- of substantially, horizontalxrelae 

